Yesterday I was talking to one of my work colleagues, and this hobby of mine came up. He is not a fountain pen user, and he, like most normal people, thinks it’s crazy how much I’ll merrily spend on a single pen. His favourite and most luxurious rollerballs are £4. I was waving around a … Continue reading Building an interesting pen collection without breaking the bank
Month: Oct 2020
At last, a pen roll that works for me: the Rickshaw Hand Roll
I’ve never found pen rolls to be very practical. Beyond the allure of traditional materials and a certain ‘laying out the tools’ ritualism, they just seem to have too many compromises. Most annoying for me is the simple thong that keeps a pen roll shut. All that wrapping and tucking takes precious seconds, and I’m … Continue reading At last, a pen roll that works for me: the Rickshaw Hand Roll
Can Kaweco’s Perkeo turn me into a calligrapher?
When I tell people that my hobby is fountain pens, invariably they’ll say “oh, like calligraphy?” Sometimes I’ll say yes because it’s easier than explaining, but the real answer is “no, not calligraphy”. My handwriting is terrible and I certainly can’t create wonders with flex and italic and needlepoint. My writing could never be described … Continue reading Can Kaweco’s Perkeo turn me into a calligrapher?
Snippets and first impressions, 26th October 2020
Wow, has it been a wonderful couple of weeks for pens for me. I have been powering through my review queue as quick as I can, but I am just too excited about some of my new arrivals and want to share my first impressions. Schon shining Well, they arrived! My Schon Pocket Six collection … Continue reading Snippets and first impressions, 26th October 2020
Giveaway for Fountain Pen Day!
Fountain Pen Day 2020 is fast approaching! To celebrate, I'm hosting a giveaway... The prize? An Esterbrook JR in black, fine nib, plus a LOAD of stickers, badges, bookmarks, and a very special stamp, all provided by the lovely folks at Esterbrook. Here's how to enter. Please read the instructions and rules carefully! Subscribe to … Continue reading Giveaway for Fountain Pen Day!
Review: Gazing Far tmX pocket pen in dragon juniper
I've been using the Gazing Far tmX for a couple of weeks now and it impresses me every time I pick it up. The tmX is a pocket pen of classical proportions. Capped and uncapped its silhouette is very similar to the market leader, the Kaweco Sport. But this is no Sport clone. Gazing Far … Continue reading Review: Gazing Far tmX pocket pen in dragon juniper
The mighty Sequoyah from Onoto
This pen grabbed me from the first photo I saw of it, and I'm happy to say it's even better in person. After a series of Scottish-themed releases, and after many releases celebrating British luminaries like Nightingale and Churchill, Shakespeare and Dickens, Onoto's release of the American-themed Sequoyah came as a bit of a surprise … Continue reading The mighty Sequoyah from Onoto
Behind the pen: Mark Braun, designer of the Otto Hutt designC
Reviewing a pen is one thing: you look at the object and evaluate it in the cold light of day. You might speculate about the decisions that led to this pen being exactly this way. But interviewing the person who designed it? That's a special treat, a unique insight into the months of creativity, refinement … Continue reading Behind the pen: Mark Braun, designer of the Otto Hutt designC
Snippets: Sunday 18th October 2020
I’ve not done one of these for a while, but it’s been a big week for stationery and I’ve got a lot to share that doesn’t fit into normal channels! Going big with Onoto It’s hardly been two minutes since I got the Sequoyah, and then Onoto hits my inbox with a set of pen … Continue reading Snippets: Sunday 18th October 2020
Review: Namisu Horizon
Remember the Brutalist Namisu Naos I reviewed a couple of weeks back? Well the pen I'm reviewing here, the Horizon, could not be more different in its design approach. While the Naos was all ruler-straight lines and flat ends, the Horizon, when capped, is all curve. Run your finger from end to end, past the … Continue reading Review: Namisu Horizon